When we got married, my aunt gave us two sterling silver iced tea spoons, promising I could use them for so much more than tea. Which is good, because — get ready to take away my Southern card — I don't like iced tea. I know. But my aunt was right. These spoons are good for so much more.

This Mother's Day, maybe your mom would love to put her feet up on the ottoman and sip a lovely glass of lavender iced tea with lemon. Or maybe the woman who raised you likes something with a little more pizzazz, like a cocktail. The sterling ice tea spoon is perfect for mixing drinks, adding a touch of elegance to happy hour.

Mix and match at will. At a cocktail party, you may even want to have different spoons for different types of drinks. Wouldn't it be fun to have your tea spoons monogrammed with "vodka," "whiskey," "gin," and "tequila?" The Tiffany Faneuil version seems particularly well suited to this. (Psssst...check that Ebay link above for a better price and remember that vintage is cool!)

Iced tea spoons are also perfect for ice cream sundaes, parfaits and individual trifles. You can set them on a buffet table for condiments or next to a bowl of olives or nuts.

And, yes, they are lovely for a tall glass of iced tea. For years, I've watched other people enjoy it, and heard them rave about its divine provenance. No matter how hard I try, I prefer my tea hot, in a mug or tea cup, usually right before bed. But I do love a cocktail. Thank goodness my pretty iced tea spoons don't have to go unused!